Payment Terminals: Essential for Modern Payment Services

1. Everything You Need to Know at a Glance
2. Definition of Terms
3. What Should Be Considered When Choosing a Payment Terminal?
4. A Brief Explanation of the Different Pricing Models
5. Advantages of Cashless Payments

A payment terminal, also known as a POS terminal, card reader or payment device, facilitates cashless payment processing at the point of sale. Customers can pay using various cards and mobile payment methods such as Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, VPAY, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and many more. It is important to note that not every device automatically supports all payment types: the actual options depend on the contract that merchants sign with payment service providers like Worldline. This contract determines which payment methods are processed and directly affects the fees incurred.

• A payment terminal or smartphone is necessary for contactless payments.

• A contract is always mandatory.

• With Tap on Mobile, payments can also be accepted via smartphone — this only requires app installation and a contract with Worldline.

• Various pricing models for payment acceptance at the terminal are available.

In addition to the terms “payment terminal” or “pay terminal,” other expressions such as POS terminal/device, card reader, credit card terminal, or terminal are used - they all refer to devices that accept payments.

• Modern devices support contactless payments via NFC, smartphone, or smartwatch.

• There are fixed and mobile payment terminals that can be used at different locations depending on your needs.

• The devices differ in connection options (with a cable, Ethernet, LAN, wifi, mobile network with a SIM card), built-in printers, and displays (touchscreen, mono or colour).

To enable payment at the terminal, a contract with a payment service provider such as Worldline is required. This contract determines which payment methods (such as debit bank cards and credit cards) can be accepted and the associated fees.

• Contracts without monthly fixed costs and minimum contract duration:  Worldline’s payment solutions for stationary retail are especially suitable for smaller businesses or merchants with few cashless payments. Only a 1.7% fee per transaction applies, while still benefiting from local support and a wide range of payment options. Find your payment solution now! 

• Classic contracts: These are best suited for merchants with (regularly) many payments. There are various pricing and billing options that should be tailored to the merchant’s needs. Common models include IC++ or Blended pricing. Worldline’s IC++ and Blended pricing models offer flexible billing options. While IC++ considers individual transaction costs, Blended is based on a fixed flat rate. Want to learn more? Contact us.

Accordingly, the actual monthly costs and fees vary depending on the contract, sales volume, payment methods, and device type. If you are looking for the right solution or suitable tariff, we are happy to provide you with personalized advice. By carefully choosing the contract and device, you will benefit from optimal conditions in the long term. 

Modern payment terminals form the foundation for a successful and satisfying shopping experience. Whether in retail, hospitality, or service providers — reliable and user-friendly devices offer a variety of benefits:

• Increase customer loyalty: The demand for accepting card payments is growing as customers increasingly pay with cards or smartphones — even for small amounts.

• Faster payments: Mobile and contactless payment methods are significantly faster than cash, reducing wait times.

• Reduction of cash: Less cash in the business reduces security risks and decreases administrative effort.

• Comparable or lower costs: Handling cash (change, personnel effort) also incurs costs, which are often lower with card payments.